Junkers G31

see also:  Junkers G31 Production List  /  Junkers G31 Philatelic Items

cantilever monoplane Passenger Airliner for 11 passengers , F/F 7 Sep 1926, 13 built
developed by Junkers Flugzeugwerke in Dessau by Zindel and Hofmann

Historical Background:

When the Allied restrictions upon Germany's aircraft constructions had been lowered, Junkers designed an improved version of his G24 airliner aircraft, which would be capable enough for the increasing demand of Europe's air transport in the mid twenties. This improved version was designated G31. Compared to the G24 versions of 1924/1925 the G31 offered space for a total of 15 passengers plus 3 crew members. The cabin was wider than the G24 cabin and toilets and baggage compartements were added. A lot of passenger comfort features were added to the cabin, like an air condition, sleeping chairs and compartement seperations. On September, 7th 1926 the G31 was certicificated for air transport.

The G31 was not a commercial success. Just 13 aircraft were built between 1926 and 1931. One reason for this was the crash of Junkers Luftverkehr, which was absorbed into Luft Hansa in January 1926. Another reason was the continued developement of the Junkers G24, of which the G24he offered nearly the same performance data than the G31, but at 60% of its costs.

A total of 8 aircraft were delivered to Luft Hansa between 1926 and 1929. Most of them were converted to the improved G31fo standard in 1931. The G31 was used by Luft Hansa on its long range routes, its passenger night flight routes to Scandinavia and on its European Express routes. All routes, which were served by the G31 required an extensive passenger convenience. The G31 for the night flight operations to Scandinavia were equipped with sleeping chairs, giving these G31s the nickname "Flying Sleeping Car". In 1928 Luft Hansa integrated a small kitchen in some G31s and an inflight meal service was introduced, giving these G31s the nickname "Flying Dining Car". The G31 was used by Luft Hansa until 1935, when most of them were replaced by the larger Junkers Ju52. The remaining G31s were transfered to RLM and were later broken up. The G31 was also sold to Austria and four aircraft were sold to Australia as freighter aircraft in 1930.

Technical Data

Junkers G31 Designators:

• G31,1, prototype of Sept. 1926 with three Junkers L5
• G31.2, same prototype with BMW VI center engine
• G31ba, initial serial production like G31.2
• G31de, three Gnome et Rhone Jupiter VI, closed cockpit, second vertical stabilzer
• G31fi, three Siemens Jupiter, larger fuselage and wing
• G31fo, three BMW Hornet, 1931/32 modification from earlier series
• G31ho, Pratt + Whitney center engine, BMW Hornet wing engines
• G31go, freighter version with cargo door on roof, open Cockpit

Weblinks:

• Airwar.ru - G31 Brief Story, Photos 
• Junkers.de - G31 Story, Data
• Fliegerweb.com - G31 Extensive Story
• Wikipedia.org - G31 Story, Data
• histaviation.com - G31 Story, Data, Drawings, Photos, Videos
• Airwaysmuseum.com - G31 Story and Photos of Guinea Airways

Literature:

• Flight International
  New Junkers Commercial Monoplane
  Flight, 17.03.1927, pg. 159
  Download PDF here: Page 1 , Page 2
• Flight International
  An Aerial Freight-Carrier for Guinea Airways
  Flight, 10. Oct 1930, pg. 1183
  Download PDF here: Page 1, Page 2
• L. Andersson, Günter Endres, Rob Mulder
  Junkers G24, K30 and G31 Stepping Stones
  EAM Books, ISBN: 978-0-9573744-2-3
• National Advisory Commitee for Aeronauticas
  Junkers Commercial Airplane G31
  Aircraft Circular No. 54
  Extract from Zeitschrift des VDI, 7 May 1927
  Download PDF here: NASA.GOV

introduced Jul 1996, transfered Jun 2017
http://hugojunkers.bplaced.net/
contents last updated 25 Jan 2003